Finnish publication: Estlink 1, Balticconnector narrowly escaped destruction

TALLINN - If Finnish authorities had not stopped the oil tanker Eagle S, the ship would have damaged the Estlink 1 undersea cable within half an hour and the Balticconnector gas pipeline within an hour, Postimees reports, citing the Finnish publication Helsingin Sanomat (HS).

Had the tanker Eagle S been able to continue its journey, it would have reached the location of the Estlink 1 cable in just thirty minutes, potentially damaging it. Within an hour, it would have crossed the Balticconnector gas pipeline, raising the risk of damage similar to what occurred last October with the Chinese ship Newnew Polar Bear. According to HS, Finnish authorities were prepared to act even if the ship had not stopped but continued dragging its anchor chain along the Baltic Sea floor.

The decision by Finnish authorities prevented further destruction of critical infrastructure. The newspaper described the operation in the Baltic Sea as exceptional in many ways, escalating tensions in Finland's relations with Russia.

The oil tanker Eagle S, part of Russia's shadow fleet, is now anchored near Porkkala Peninsula, southeast of Helsinki, where Finnish authorities are investigating it.